Fresh off its runnerup finish in the 2007 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Women's Cross Country Championships, Saint Xavier University has been selected as the preseason favorite to take over the 2008 crown from two-time defending league champion Olivet Nazarene University in a vote of the conference's nine coaches.

Saint Xavier featured two runners in the top five of last year's league championship meet and four among the top nine overall, but still fell three points short of unseating Olivet Nazarene, which totaled 37 points to the Cougars' 40. Nonetheless, SXU garnered six of the nine first-place votes and 62 votes overall in this year's poll to earn the top nod. Olivet Nazarene, which collected the other three first-place votes, totaled 57 votes.

Illinois Institute of Technology was chosen as the third-place favorite with 43 votes after finishing in that spot one year ago, while University of St. Francis rounded out the upper bracket with 41 votes.

Trinity Christian College gained the No. 5 spot with its 31 votes, while Robert Morris College was one vote back with 30.

Rounding out the poll were first-year competitor Judson University (23 votes), Calumet College St. Joseph (19) and Cardinal Stritch University (18).

The complete 2008 CCAC Preseason Women's Cross Country Coaches Poll is listed below:

Team (1^st Place Votes) Total Votes

1. Saint Xavier (6) 62 votes

2. Olivet Nazarene (3) 57

3. Illinois Tech 43

4. St. Francis 41

5. Trinity Christian 31

6. Robert Morris 30

7. Judson 23

8. Calumet St. Joseph 19

9. Cardinal Stritch 18